Sustainable Forest Management Plan

Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is defined as: “Management that maintains and enhances the long-term health of forest ecosystems for the benefit of all living things, while providing environmental, economic, social and cultural opportunities for present and future generations.” ¹ The purpose of The Teal Jones Group Sustainable Forest Management Plan is to outline:

• Teal-Jones’ approach to achieve sustainable forest management;
• The current state of the Defined Forest Area; as well as,
• The local values, objectives, indicators, and targets of Sustainable Forest Management developed through the public participation process.

The Teal Jones Group (Teal-Jones) has developed a Sustainable Forest Management Plan reflecting the company’s commitment to the responsible management of resources under its stewardship.  This Plan was developed with input from local communities, stakeholders and Indigenous communities through Teal-Jones’ Public Advisory Groups. Every year Teal-Jones updates it’s Sustainable Forest Management Plan and creates an Annual Report (found in Appendix 1) to document the progress for each indicator.

The following is a summary of some of the highlights of the current 2022 Annual Report:

• Teal-Jones’ team of Qualified Professionals planned operations consistent with approved Forest Stewardship Plans. These plans reflect the most current, science-based research for planning and procedures to meet Government Objectives for resource values.  Development of the Forest Stewardship Plans included extensive review and consultation with local Indigenous communities, Qualified Professionals, communities, stakeholders, other tenure holders, and the public. Ongoing information sharing and field assessments of areas with local First Nations, communities and special interest groups is a cornerstone of the ongoing planning process.
• To ensure safe and healthy workplaces, Teal-Jones’ operations continue to be SAFE Certified by the BC Forest Safety Council. Prime Contractors are also SAFE Certified, and Teal-Jones conducts rigorous, ongoing reviews of their Safety Management System.
• An average of 10.6% of the area harvested for each cutblock was retained to recognize important resource values such as biodiversity, wildlife, and water quality.  Additionally, 64 sites of special significance were retained including Culturally Modified Trees and Areas of Potential Archaeological features (AOP’s).
• Teal-Jones does not export logs and continues to provide jobs through harvested volume consistent with the Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) of our tenures.
• Local forest values were maintained through ongoing communications with communities, forest dependent businesses and recreation groups. For example, Teal-Jones assisted 2 beekeepers, salvage operators, and recreation groups with access to our tenures subject to safety protocols.
• A total of 1.35 million trees were planted in 2022 across the Defined Forest Area, over one quarter of which were Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) and Yellow-cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis).
• Educational outreach, community meetings, public consultation and participation opportunities are integral to the sustainable management of forests for local communities. In 2022, all Public Advisory Group meetings were conducted virtually to increase knowledge and education of Sustainable Forest Management. Contributions to community groups (financial and in kind) for 2022 totaled $127’883.
• Ongoing, open, and respectful communications with Indigenous Communities to foster meaningful engagement continues to be a top priority. Teal-Jones participates in existing protocol agreements and works with First Nations to develop new ones upon request.  Information sharing continues to improve as relationships with local First Nations evolve.
• Teal-Jones continues to expand on employment opportunities for Indigenous people and contractors. In 2022, several Indigenous employment contracts were awarded, including positions at the Teal-Jones saw log mill in Surrey, British Columbia, and full-time staff positions in our Fraser Valley Operation.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, or if you would like to request for a detailed copy of the Teal-Jones Sustainable Forest Management plan 2022, Please contact us using the button below.

¹  Source: Canadian Standards Association Sustainable Forest Management Z809-16 Standard.